PIESTANY, Slovakia - After watching his team steamroll its way through the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament, Canadian coach Bill Peters had just one small complaint - he wanted to see more.

The Canadian under-18 team completed its perfect run at the event by beating Russia 6-3 in the gold medal final on Saturday.

"Their play is just getting better and better," said Peters. "If we could stay together for two more weeks, it would be pretty outstanding to watch."

They did more than enough damage in the time they were together.

Canada outscored its opponents 24-10 in four tournament games while outshooting them 177-69. A major key to its success was a balanced attack that saw seven Canadians finish among the top-13 scorers at the event.

"I think it's a special group," said Peters. "When you win with a group, you're always going to remember the guys. These guys have done a wonderful job."

The victory over Russia provided a perfect example of the team's balanced attack.

It's the fourth time in five years that a Canadian team has left this tournament as the champion. The future looks pretty bright for this particular age group as Canada also won gold at the world under-18 championship in Russia during the spring.

"Every time you win one, the feeling just keeps getting better and better," said Schenn, one of four players who was on both those Canadian teams.

With the exception of Hall, every player on this squad will be available at next year's NHL draft. Captain Matt Duchene and Schenn are currently projected to be among the top picks while Hall is likely to find himself in a similar position in 2010.

The team came together extremely fast.

Forty players attended a training camp in Calgary two weeks ago

Jack Butler

08-17-2008, 09:25 AM

Sweeeeeet!
Hockey Canada Rules.
Championship form in two weeks?
Of course!

Jack Butler

08-17-2008, 09:44 AM

It's the fourth time in five years that a Canadian team has left this tournament as the champion. The future looks pretty bright for this particular age group as Canada also won gold at the world under-18 championship in Russia during the spring.

Did the Americans send a team?
Great article, but not even an honourable mention for the USA?
Their fans will have to fabricate some result or do some comparison that somehow justify how much they suck.

GenX

08-17-2008, 12:59 PM

Canada is the only country to take this tournament seriously. No one else cares, but Canada sends all it has to this tournament, pretty sure they will win. It helps pump up a people and country that know damn well the game of hockey left them long ago.

I can't express how said it is to watch Canadians try to hold on to something that was never really theirs.

haha

08-17-2008, 01:00 PM

sort of like u and basketball?

GenX

08-17-2008, 01:01 PM

Yeah, our basketball team is really struggling right now /ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/lol.gif

Jack Butler

08-17-2008, 02:00 PM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: R W G R</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Canada is the only country to take this tournament seriously. No one else cares, but Canada sends all it has to this tournament, pretty sure they will win. It helps pump up a people and country that know damn well the game of hockey left them long ago.

I can't express how said it is to watch Canadians try to hold on to something that was never really theirs. </div></div>

I think the drafting for the next 2 years is pretty good. Lucky that it is for the American teams.

GenX

08-21-2008, 12:04 AM

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: *Super Gram*</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think the drafting for the next 2 years is pretty good. Lucky that it is for the American teams. </div></div>